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Recall that he was the one responsible for a stinker on Chimamanda Adiche, when the latter wrote an open letter to the United States’ president, Joe Biden, against congratulating the Nigerian president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. READ THE STORY HERE.
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This time around, the writer, who boasts of golden pen with the ink of the gods, has rendered an eulogy on the popular, legendary and multi-talented personality, Gbenga Adeboye.
Late Adeboye, who was born 30 September 1959 and died on 30 April, 2003, was a Nigerian singer, comedian, radio presenter and master of ceremony.
A broadcaster, comedian and musician, popularly known as ‘Funwontan’, until his death was popular personality who took the Yoruba entertainment industry by storm.
In his tribute, Legendary JOE was able to capture this late abami eda beautifully while throwing jabs at Noble Igwe and some Nigerian pastors, underscoring his wordsmithability using photos and clips from his audios. Enjoy Legendary JOE unedited.
GBENGA ADEBOYE…
THE ALL-ROUND ENTERTAINER, ACTIVIST, PROPHET…
He sang to penetrate the soul and revive conscience and consciousness and not entirely for pleasure or blind alignment with vogue.
In his ‘Discovery Album’, he awakened the decomposing humanity in children who upon attaining success abandon their procreator to affliction. Appears he saw ahead amateur beasts like the Ignoble Gnome who thinks a child owes his parent nothing but neglect and mistreatment.
In ‘Exposure’, while in the USA Funwontan touched on the JAPA syndrome, saying while forces beyond control may compel the need to leave one’s source for greener pastures, degrees, adventure, vocation etc, unlike the river, our flow must reflect upon the world left behind but also like the river, our rise must not be distant from its source, lest it dries.
As a Prophet, Alabefe accurately predicted Diya’s return in confirmation that God’s gifts do not come with titles. In this age when ordained pastors and Overseers of 50,000, 100,000 seater record breaking auditoria gamble amiss, declaring victory for the worst in the race, and when God chose to prove though he may have called them but he didn’t send them, they picked quarrel with Jehohav and began to blackmail him saying mere mortals outsmarted d Almighty, a direct affront to the Lion of Judah. As far back as 1997, in his ‘Yoruba Ronu’ classic, while Diya was in incarceration awaiting death, Jengbetiele boldly predicted that though Death may approach but General Oladipo Diya would only have a handshake and not an embrace, prophecy he repeated on several of his radio programs. Indeed before the Killer killed, the killer himself was killed and Diya returned home in one piece as Gbenga Adeboye had predicted.
As the ‘Oluaye Sorosoro’, the One man Batallion as he was hailed at the time delivered his rendition like none other. His mastery of the Quran, Bible and yoruba language had no equal which gave his deliveries d unique touch of class and excellence never seen before then, still not seen now and may be never be seen.
As a Comedian, before what we now know as skits, Gbenga Adeboye pioneered comedic series on radio with legendary fictional characters like ‘Itu Baba Ita’ ‘Lasisi Abesupinle’ etc, at a time when d iconic Kolawole Olawuyi dominated the radios with his mystical ‘Irinkerindo’, where he narrated gory events with impeccable finesse, listeners nevertheless glued to Funwontan on radio as no one wanted to miss Itu Baba Ita and Lasisi Abesupinle among other classics. I think the good thing was both legends ensured their programs held on different days so both Greats enjoyed maximum attention from listeners.
As a leader, he raised other radio exponents like Baba Gboin, Yemi Ajide etc…What is a leader if he does not raise other leaders? A point many of our friends find unpleasant because they follow a man who built nothing and nobody. Beyond his leadership, his generosity knew no bounds from the testimonies of admirers. He touched lives indeed almost to his own detriment. Giving may be more convenient in plenty but for Gbenga who himself was not exactly a millionaire to give in so mighty measure, is a virtue worthy of celebration indeed.
October 06, 2002, Death sent his cousin and he arrived safely at the door of Gbenga Adeboye when he appeared to have breathe his last. News already broke and the mood along with it. Tributes already pouring and encomiums from the small and mighty making the rounds, only for Elijah to rise after 6 hours to the amazement of all.
In his last album Aye Toto, Adeboye narrated what was at the time breathe his last. News already broke and the mood along with it. Tributes already pouring and encomiums from the small and mighty making the rounds, only for Elijah to rise after 6 hours to the amazement of all. In his last album Aye Toto, Adeboye narrated what was at the time not taken serious, that he was refused entry into paradise so he could hastily return to fetch his Bible and Song of praise. For in just 6 months after the message that appeared to be a proverbial warning to Adeboye to mend his ways with God, on April 30 2003, The King of the Mic, Gbenga Adeboye, Funwontan, Abefe, Jengbetiele, Oluaye Sorosoro finally succumb to a unnamed illness that defied treatment, Death finally came himself and Gbenga breathe his last.
And who sponsored his treatment? Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who was Governor of Lagos at the time.
It’s been 20 years, Gbenga Adeboye, the large shoes you left had not been filled, the position of King of Talk had not been occupied, and your unique style of comedy had not been replaced.
I pen my tribute again as a fan who had all 23 records from PhD Beetles to Aye Toto and I Say continue to rest well in peace and quietude knowing your man Asiwaju is now president elect as you would have wanted…
My eternal respects to his wife, children and family.
1959-2003 (at just 44)
Alhadji Pastor Oluwo…
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
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